The 10 highest construction and property salary increases for the year ahead 

The UK construction and property sector remained resilient through 2025, overcoming ongoing skills shortages, economic headwinds, and growing tax burdens.

In our Hays UK Salary & Recruiting Trends 2026 guide, we received insights from over 1,000 employers and employees working within construction and property, offering an exclusive deep dive into the industry’s salary trends, recruitment challenges, and other key market insights.

Hiring intentions look strong for the year ahead, with 80% of employers planning to recruit staff in the year ahead. But with 92% of employers experiencing skills shortages in the past year, having competitive rates of pay remains an important talent attraction method in a tight hiring market. 

We’ve outlined which professionals have seen some of the highest pay uplifts, along with key strategies for securing their services in 2026.

A wide variety of construction and property professionals see above-average pay increases 

Salaries continued to grow across the sector, with our latest data showing that 78% of employers increased their employees’ salaries in the last 12 months, although a slight decrease from the year before (81%).

Pay rose by an average of 3% – notably higher than the 2.2% average across all industries. Moreover, some areas received noticeably higher pay increases over the last year, such as social housing salaries, driven in part by National Living Wage increases. Meanwhile, managers across the board have benefited from higher than average pay rises, with contract managers and facility managers making our top list.

This trend continues within sustainability; environment managers (senior leadership) and energy/carbon managers (entry level) have seen some of highest pay rises for their services, with demand growing for both new and experienced leaders who can help organisations navigate evolving ESG and net-zero commitments.

While the following list does not necessarily reflect the highest paid jobs in construction and property, it offers a valuable snapshot of the roles seeing some of the highest growth potential.

Top ten salary increases in construction and property:

1. Housing assistant
2. Anti-social behaviour/community safety officer
3. Support/project worker
4. Contract manager
5. Technical services supervisor
6. Income recovery officer
7. Technical services manager
8. Facilities manager
9. Electrical/mechanical engineer
10. Facilities director

Salary growth looks set to continue over the coming year, with 84% of employers planning on increasing their employees’ salaries, according to our survey data. These increases have appeased most professionals, with 61% satisfied with their salary or pay rate.

Beyond pay: what’s motivating professionals to change job?

Over half of employees (59%) anticipate moving jobs within a year, and while salaries are a key consideration for industry professionals searching for their next role, there are other factors hiring managers in the sector must be aware of to maximise their talent acquisition plans. And with 51% of employers losing candidates to counter‑offers, it’s clear that skilled professionals know their value and are willing to scrutinise an organisation’s offering. If you’re considering changing jobs, it helps to keep an eye on the latest vacancies in your area.

Beyond pay, candidates prioritise a good work atmosphere (45%), a strong benefits package (45%), job security (36%), and career development opportunities (35%). Location (30%) also ranks highly for professionals, with on-site work being an industry standard.

Organisations aiming to attract top talent must review their employee value proposition (EVP), as perceptions are divided: half of employees believe their EVP matches reality; a view shared by 49% of employers. Work-life balance is a major concern for staff, with just 45% rating theirs positively and 51% willing to accept lower pay for better balance. Most professionals work overtime or feel expected to be available outside contracted hours. Addressing these issues, and offering more flexible arrangements, could be the key to winning skilled candidates.

For a comprehensive look at salaries and employment trends across the entire construction and property industry, along with exclusive employer insights, access the Salary and Recruitment Trends 2026 guide.